Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Hodgepodge

A delightful old English word, dating back over 400 years – synonyms include gallimaufry, hash, mishmash andjumble. But if you are Italian, then the word is miscuglio

Last week, a friend gave me a thank-you gift for some sewing I had done for her. ‘This is quite unnecessary’ I said ‘I knew you’d say that’ she replied, grinning. She handed me a pretty pink carrier bag. Inside, I found some miscuglio

It is a delicious, traditional Italian herb mixture of garlic, oregano, basil, thyme, onion and red bell pepper; all very simple ingredients with an amazing combined flavour. Incredibly versatile – they suggest you can

I used some of it to top some stuffed courgettes – and it certainly added great flavour. I think it will be using it in a pasta sauce, and also making some into a dip before too long. You don’t need much – so I hope the jar will last ages.

The bag of goodies also contained Costa Coffee [always enjoyable] some Champagne Mustard, and some Strawberry and Black Pepper Vinaigrette [the latter has already been drizzled over a lunchtime salad…delicious!] These things [apart from the coffee] all came from ‘Oil and Vinegar’. They have an O&V shop in Leicester now.

We have occasionally been in their Norwich store and feasted on their free samples – but it is really lovely to be treated to some of their products like this. Thanks A – a really thoughtful gift which will bring much pleasure. And I have learned a new word-miscuglio!

I had NO idea that's what Gallimaufrey meant, and that it was a synonym of hodgepodge! My favourite wind band piece I ever played was called Gallimaufrey by Guy Woolfendon and now I understand why all the movements had such different titles! Thank you for re-educating me, 14 years on from the last time I played it! Anyway, what a lovely thought of her to have given you those things!

About Me

Preacher, teacher, wife, mother, grandmother, craftswoman. Married to wonderful Pastor Bob since 1979, now happily settled and busy in Dorset. I am blessed with two wonderful grown-up daughters and a darling grand-daughter